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Post by spaceflightorange on Jul 17, 2013 7:27:09 GMT
Not Triban related but B'Twin
Anybody have any experience with the Rockrider 8.1?
I'm really fancying getting back into mountain biking but don't want to spend a fortune. I have a 1998 GT Zaskar which I'm rebuilding at the moment with some new components but its very old skool in terms of it geometry and the forks (Pace RC-36 Evo) whilst good and recently serviced are old and only have 70mm travel. I was chatting to a guy up in the lakes and he said up there when you go off the beaten track it's really rocky and you need about 120mm travel and high-volume tyres to cope with the terrain.
Im really nervous about using the Zaskar as i've had it from new (I originally built it myself) and don't want to wreck it. so i'm thinking of using it occasionally, and getting a new MTB for the rough stuff. I wont be going out every weekend so i dont need a pro-level bike.
I've been looking at alternatives and nothing compares for the price. up to £800 they are all similar, It's only beyond that point do you seem to get tapered head tubes and longer travel forks, etc.
I dont really want to stretch to price, but the Whyte 901 (which is on sale at Wheelbase) almost made me do it! But i need to be realistic and for £450 less the 8.1 is only 1kg heavier whereas the cheaper whyte 801 felt about 3kg heavier!
Halfords are selling the Boardman HT Team for £722 reduced from £849, but the offer ends today and every store round here only seem to have display models; in fact one had 2 display models and said that neither were in a saleable condition. the one i looked at last night in another store looked second-hand!
Discussions about the frame quality are on-going on various forums but the fact that B'Twin offer a lifetime warranty should be piece of mind enough.
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Post by Whitestar1 on Jul 17, 2013 10:27:11 GMT
I have had my RockRider 8.0 for 3 years April last. Just over 2300 miles, some of those Cannock Chase and Sandwell Valley. Cost at the time was £400. I do like the 8.1 though but my RR is doing just fine. About the change the chain, just changed out the brake pads for the rear hydraulic brake and got a new set for the front waiting to be installed. Those Avid Juicy 3 brakes are a bugger to install!
It's the same frame as the 8.1 just different shocks and brakes.
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Post by zoltansocrates on Jul 17, 2013 17:25:36 GMT
spacey, be careful of the darkside
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2013 18:58:30 GMT
Well, my dad owns the Rockrider 8.1 and i've had a few plays on it now and then and i'll put it this way, i got the same RR 8.0 as whitestar and it knocks it into complete fits. So comfortable when it comes to geting airtime on cannock chase and throwing the bike about. Beautiful to ride and you got that fast lock and unlock rather than trying to one hand lockout when going offroad. deore crank is lovely to ride with as it is rigid over the smooth stuff and can hold itself over the heavy stuff. i did change my pedals to SPd so i had more feel of the bike but soo nice to ride, especially with rock shox and they're 100mm travel.
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bazza
Peloton Rider
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Post by bazza on Jul 17, 2013 18:58:51 GMT
i have a rockrider 8.0 for 2 years and done over 3500 miles on it, the only problem i had was a month after i got the brake lever started leaking fluid, they changed them for the elexir 3 and never had any other problems. i would have no problems getting another mountain bike from them
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Post by Whitestar1 on Jul 18, 2013 10:49:43 GMT
Sounds all good, so what are you going to do spaceflightorange?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2013 11:39:36 GMT
Dan, Could you clarify, please? Do you mean the 8.1 is superior to your 8.0, or vice versa?
Given your access to all models in the store, what is your opinion of the full suspension models - the 6.5 or the 9.1?
Don't want to hijack the thread by any means, so apologies for that. But would there be any appetite for a sub-forum for mountainbiking/trailing/cyclocross? There were some posts before about RockRiders in the 'non-cycling' section which was a little bizarre, to say the least.
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Post by spaceflightorange on Jul 18, 2013 14:49:04 GMT
Sounds all good, so what are you going to do spaceflightorange? Dunno to be honest. Sitting on the Whyte 901 has tainted my view of the world. It's a beautiful bike. I was also looking at the Boardman Team as i mentioned but these are all a lot more than the 8.1 My local Decathlon doesnt have the medium in so i'd have to order it before i could check the fit. I am going to have a good look at the Boardman this evening
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Post by spaceflightorange on Jul 18, 2013 15:01:39 GMT
Dan, Could you clarify, please? Do you mean the 8.1 is superior to your 8.0, or vice versa? Given your access to all models in the store, what is your opinion of the full suspension models - the 6.5 or the 9.1? Don't want to hijack the thread by any means, so apologies for that. But would there be any appetite for a sub-forum for mountainbiking/trailing/cyclocross? There were some posts before about RockRiders in the 'non-cycling' section which was a little bizarre, to say the least. I read a review on Bike Radar about the 9.1 and it said it was really good. The only thing preventing it from getting 5 stars was the lack of a rear shock lockout Other's im looking at Whyte 901Boardman HT TeamBoardman HT Pro
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Post by spaceflightorange on Jul 18, 2013 21:59:18 GMT
Decided on the HT Pro. I can't get a HT Team and the in spite of the Whyte being discounted (£999 from £1199) it's much more than I wanted to spend. The HT Pro is also discounted by £150 to £849 which is surprising as the offer should have ended yesterday. It's £300 more than the 8.1 but much better spec and a better frame (in fact it's a better spec than the Whyte). Over stretching by buying it, but you can't take it with you
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Post by Whitestar1 on Jul 19, 2013 6:40:13 GMT
Decided on the HT Pro. I can't get a HT Team and the in spite of the Whyte being discounted (£999 from £1199) it's much more than I wanted to spend. The HT Pro is also discounted by £150 to £849 which is surprising as the offer should have ended yesterday. It's £300 more than the 8.1 but much better spec and a better frame (in fact it's a better spec than the Whyte). Over stretching by buying it, but you can't take it with you Its a nice one.
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Post by spaceflightorange on Jul 19, 2013 12:03:47 GMT
Decided on the HT Pro. I can't get a HT Team and the in spite of the Whyte being discounted (£999 from £1199) it's much more than I wanted to spend. The HT Pro is also discounted by £150 to £849 which is surprising as the offer should have ended yesterday. It's £300 more than the 8.1 but much better spec and a better frame (in fact it's a better spec than the Whyte). Over stretching by buying it, but you can't take it with you Its a nice one. It really is a massive upgrade. The difference in the fork alone is night and day, coil spring on the 8.1 vs dual air on the HT Pro the price difference between the forks is £115 alone!
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Post by Whitestar1 on Jul 21, 2013 10:03:51 GMT
I have often noted that the shocks on the MTB that really defines the ride style of the bike. Mark you that does include other factors such as frame and wheelsets, but for me its mainly the stocks. Got a very good one and you can throw that bike all over the place! So Cannock Chase Monkey Trail any time soon spaceflightorange? Got to be careful with your bike there - they might nick it lol Shock prices are just too high!
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